Diseases reference index «Jaw - broken or dislocated»

A broken jaw is a break in the jaw bone. A dislocated jaw means the lower part of the jaw has moved out of its normal position at one or both joints where the jaw bone connects to the skull (temporomandibular joints).

Considerations

A broken or dislocated jaw usually heals completely after treatment. However, the jaw may become dislocated again in the future.

Complications may include:

Airway blockage

Bleeding

Breathing blood or food into the lungs

Difficulty eating (temporary)

Difficulty talking (temporary)

Infection of the jaw or face

Jaw joint (TMJ) pain and other problems

Problems aligning the teeth

Causes

The most common cause of a broken or dislocated jaw is injury to the face. This may be due to:

Assault

Industrial accident

Motor vehicle accident

Recreational or sports injury

Symptoms

Symptoms of a dislocated jaw include:

Bite that feels "off" or crooked

Difficulty speaking

Drooling because of inability to close the mouth

Inability to close the mouth

Jaw that may protrude forward

Pain in the face or jaw, located in front of the ear on the affected side, and gets worse with movement

Teeth that aren't normally aligned

Symptoms of a fractured (broken) jaw include:

Bleeding from the mouth

Difficulty opening the mouth widely

Facial bruising

Facial swelling

Jaw stiffness

Jaw tenderness or pain, worse with biting or chewing

Loose or damaged teeth

Lump or abnormal appearance of the cheek or jaw

Numbness of the face (particularly the lower lip)

Very limited movement of the jaw (with severe fracture)

First Aid

A broken or dislocated jaw requires immediate medical attention because of the risk of breathing problems or significant bleeding. Call your local emergency number (such as 911) or local hospital for further advice.

Hold the jaw gently in place with your hands while traveling to the emergency room. A bandage may also be wrapped over the top of the head and under the jaw. However, such a bandage should be easily removable in case you need to vomit.

If breathing problems or heavy bleeding occurs, or if there is severe facial swelling, a tube may be placed into your airways to help you breathe.

DISLOCATED JAW

If the jaw is dislocated, the health care provider may be able to place it back into the correct position using the thumbs. Numbing medications (anesthetics) and muscle relaxants may be needed to relax the strong jaw muscles.

The jaw may need to be stabilized. This usually involves bandaging the jaw to keep the mouth from opening widely. In some cases, surgery may be needed to do this, particularly if repeated jaw dislocations occur.

After dislocating your jaw, you should not open your mouth widely for at least 6 weeks. Support your jaw with one or both hands when yawning and sneezing.

FRACTURED JAW

Temporarily bandaging the jaw (around the top of the head) to prevent it from moving may help reduce pain.

The specific treatment for a fractured jaw depends on how badly the bone is broken. If you have a minor fracture, you may only need pain medicines and to follow a soft or liquid diet for a while.

Surgery is often needed for moderate to severe fractures. The jaw may be wired to the teeth of the opposite jaw to improve stability. Jaw wires are usually left in place for 6 - 8 weeks. Small rubber bands (elastics) are used to hold the teeth together. After a few weeks, some of the elastics are removed to allow motion and reduce joint stiffness.

If the jaw is wired, you can only drink liquids or eat very soft foods. Have blunt scissors readily available to cut the elastics in the event of vomiting or choking. If the wires must be cut, consult a health care provider promptly so they can be replaced.